Stampede deaths: States list tough conditions for palliative distribution

As part of efforts to prevent tragedies at public events, several states have started the implementation of strict precautionary measures, The PUNCH reports.

This comes after 67 people, 35 of them children, died in stampedes in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital; Okija, Anambra State and Abuja during a funfair and food distribution ceremonies.

In the rush to secure free food items from the organisers, some of the participants were trampled upon, resulting in fatalities. While 35 children were confirmed dead by the police in Ibadan, 10 people died in Abuja, while 22 were reported killed in Okija.

In a decisive action, the Lagos State Government mandated individuals and groups to register with state safety agencies when planning for events expected to host more than 250 attendees, both during and after the Yuletide.

The government emphasised that failure to comply with this directive would result in sanctions for event organisers.

At a media briefing on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, alongside heads of state safety commissions, stressed the importance of adequate crowd control measures in preventing tragedies.

“The Lagos State Government is seriously concerned about the stampede incidents in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja. Any individual, group, or organisation planning to distribute items or host large gatherings must obtain clearance from the state government and register with the safety commissions,” Omotosho stated.